Many Americas : Reading and Writing Across the Cultural Divides

From provocative op-ed pieces and contemporary essays by some of today's most gifted masters to editorial cartoons and clever satire, the 105 selections in Many Americas engage students and invite them to think critically about the political and cultural fault lines that divide our country. Many Americas is the first composition text to address the complex, polarizing divisions among citizens on the most important issues of our time: economic status, family values, health, religion, the environment, national security, and international relations. Taken together, the diverse selections go beyond simplistic red-state/blue-state labels to explore the social landscape and its larger contexts and examine assumptions behind attitudes. The readings not only represent a wide spectrum of politically and culturally diverse voices, they also provide a variety of rhetorical models from across the curriculum. The pedagogical apparatus guides students to hone their own thinking, writing, and argumentative skills to more effectively respond to what they read and become active participants in today's cultural and political forum. As students work through these selections, writing and discussion questions prompt them to grapple with their own values, experiences, and beliefs, while learning to respect diverse points of view. An introductory chapter focuses students on key reading, writing, and critical-thinking skills useful to students as they explore the readings. Readings include provocative selections by writers from a wide spectrum of political perspectives, including Rick Bass, William J. Bennett, Barbara Ehrenreich, Edward Said, Dan Savage, Eric Schlosser, and Garry Wills. Headnotes present information about the writers and the publications in which their articles first appeared. Questions after each essay encourage students to explore correlations between authors and viewpoints, to discuss issues in class, and to respond to the readings in writing through traditional papers as well as journals, blogs or course Web pages. Exercises that help students build their critical-thinking skills and research ideas appear at the end of each chapter. A rich assortment of photographs, including two four-color inserts, highlights key themes in the readings and increases visual literacy. An appendix on conducting research across the cultural divides.